Sacide Karakas1, Ayfer Metin Tellioglu1, Mehmet Bilgin2, Imran Kurt Omurlu3, Sercin Caliskan2, Salih Coskun4. 1. Department of Anatomy, Adnan Menderes University School of Medicine, Aydın, Turkey. 2. Department of Biophysics, Adnan Menderes University School of Medicine, Aydın, Turkey. 3. Department of Biostatistics, Adnan Menderes University School of Medicine, Aydın, Turkey. 4. Department of Genetic, Dicle University School of Medicine, Diyarbakır, Turkey.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Thalassemias major are the most common autosomal recessive disorders; they are characterized by anomalies in the synthesis of the beta chains of hemoglobin and are often associated with varying degrees of craniofacial anomalies. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the craniofacial dimensions of β-thalassemia patients and to identify differences by comparing them to those of a control group. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study comprised 43 thalassemia major patients and 26 age- and sex- matched healthy control subjects. Anthropometric measurements were performed in six different craniofacial regions (head, face, nose, mouth, eyes, and ears); a total of 23 craniofacial variables were measured. RESULTS: Craniofacial measurements in the regions of the face, nose, lips and mouth, and ears in the thalassemia major patient group yielded statistically significant differences compared to those in the control group (p<0.05). However, no statistically significant differences were observed in the measurements of the head and eye regions. CONCLUSION: The study increased our understanding of the craniofacial anatomy of thalassemia major patients and enabled us to obtain quantitative results.
OBJECTIVE:Thalassemias major are the most common autosomal recessive disorders; they are characterized by anomalies in the synthesis of the beta chains of hemoglobin and are often associated with varying degrees of craniofacial anomalies. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the craniofacial dimensions of β-thalassemiapatients and to identify differences by comparing them to those of a control group. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study comprised 43 thalassemia major patients and 26 age- and sex- matched healthy control subjects. Anthropometric measurements were performed in six different craniofacial regions (head, face, nose, mouth, eyes, and ears); a total of 23 craniofacial variables were measured. RESULTS: Craniofacial measurements in the regions of the face, nose, lips and mouth, and ears in the thalassemia major patient group yielded statistically significant differences compared to those in the control group (p<0.05). However, no statistically significant differences were observed in the measurements of the head and eye regions. CONCLUSION: The study increased our understanding of the craniofacial anatomy of thalassemia major patients and enabled us to obtain quantitative results.